The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) has cautioned the Federal Government that recently introduced and proposed policy measures, particularly tax reforms, could further erode public trust if concerns around fairness, justice and inclusiveness are not adequately addressed.
The warning was issued on Saturday during the opening of the B-Zone Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) at the proposed permanent site of Al-Ummah University, located along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway in Onigari, Ogun State.
Concerns over governance and trust
Speaking at the event, MSSN National President, Mallam Tajudeen Mustapha, said Nigeria is facing layered challenges, including economic hardship, insecurity, moral decline and leadership shortcomings. According to him, policies perceived by citizens as unjust or poorly explained only deepen distrust in government institutions.
He stressed that taxation itself is not the fundamental problem, but rather the widespread lack of confidence in how public funds are managed and accounted for.
“Reforms that raise questions of equity, justice and even national sovereignty naturally make citizens sceptical and disengaged,” Mustapha said, urging authorities to prioritise transparency and accountability in policy implementation.
Call for responsible leadership
The MSSN leadership emphasised that governance carries an obligation to act responsibly, noting that restoring public confidence requires policies that are clearly guided by justice, fairness and openness.
Earlier, the Amir of MSSN B-Zone, Mallam Moshood Kolawole, described the Islamic Vacation Course as the society’s flagship annual programme. He said the gathering provides a platform for self-assessment and collective reflection on social responsibility, particularly at a time of growing economic pressure and insecurity.
Kolawole explained that participants from across southern Nigeria were brought together to discuss moral decline, value erosion and social challenges that demand sincere and coordinated action.
“Responsibility is collective”
Delivering a keynote lecture titled “We Are All Responsible,” Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed—Imam of the Muslim Community at the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, and Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State—said societal problems persist when both leaders and citizens fail to act responsibly.
He warned that remaining silent in the face of injustice, corruption and insecurity amounts to complicity, adding that accountability in Islam extends to actions, words and deliberate inaction. According to him, parents, youths, professionals and leaders all share responsibility for the state of society.
Participation and organisation
The Chief Registrar of the programme, Abdulrazak Yusuf, disclosed that 10,158 delegates registered from the Edo, Delta and Rivers axis. He attributed the turnout to improvements in the online registration system introduced in the previous edition, while acknowledging challenges caused by limited awareness among some members.
He urged MSSN area units to intensify sensitisation efforts ahead of future programmes to ensure smoother participation.
Context: Nigeria’s tax reforms
The concerns raised by the MSSN come amid nationwide debate over Nigeria’s new tax regime. In June, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a sweeping package of tax reform legislation, described as the most comprehensive overhaul of the country’s fiscal framework in decades. The reforms are scheduled to take effect in January 2026.
While the Federal Government has repeatedly assured Nigerians that the new tax laws will strengthen fiscal sustainability and improve public revenue management, critics argue that the reforms could worsen the financial strain already facing many citizens.
The MSSN’s intervention adds to growing calls for broader consultation, clarity and fairness in implementing policies that directly affect the economic wellbeing of Nigerians.
Source: Africa Publicity
